The archæology of Rome, Part 8 : $b The aqueductsParker, John Henry
History
The archæology of Rome, Part 8 : $b The aqueducts
Parker, John Henry
Rome -- Antiquities
After passing the bridges across the valley of the Anio, the Anio Novus,
Marcia, and Anio Vetus are continued along the side of the hill in what
may still be called the cliff of the valley of the Anio, to _near_ the
cascades at Tivoli, at different levels, the Anio Novus considerably
higher than the others. To avoid the cascades here the aqueducts wind
round the end of the hill. In going out of Tivoli to the promenade of
Carciano, on the side towards Rome, there is a large college of the
Jesuits on the left hand, the _specus_ of the Anio Novus passing under
this, and through a wine-cellar. About a quarter of a mile out of the
town, two _specus_ are visible on the side of the hill above the road or
promenade, and these may be traced at short intervals for miles, with
openings into them in several places. The lower one is the Marcian,
passing in a more direct line, and further from Tivoli, and is generally
cut in the rock as a tunnel; the upper one is the Anio Novus, and is in
some places faced with brick or with _Opus Reticulatum_, where it has to
cross an opening. The Aqua Marcia here passes at a lower level below the
road, with reservoirs at intervals, as already described.
At about three miles below Tivoli, and half-a-mile after passing one of
the great reservoirs of the Marcia at the lower level, the Anio Novus
is carried on an arcade across a valley and a small stream, at a place
called after the arcade Arcinelli. The great Villa of Hadrian is nearly
under this at the foot of the hill, perhaps a mile lower down. This
was supplied with water by branches from the aqueducts, but without
interfering with the main streams, which went on at the high level still
at least five hundred feet above the level of Rome. From this high
level the aqueducts led gradually down in a serpentine course, crossing
several narrow valleys or gullies through the hills, along which some
mountain-stream flows far below. At two important points, the aqueducts
have to be carried across such valleys or gullies on fine arcades or
bridges. The one nearest to Tivoli is called the bridge of S. Antony,
from a small chapel made in the Middle Ages, probably in the fourteenth
century, out of a portion of the _specus_ of the Marcia, in one of
the chambers of a _castellum aquæ_ belonging to it, the rest of which
has been destroyed. The _specus_ of the Anio Vetus under it has also
been destroyed, but the arcade is preserved for the use of horses and
foot-passengers. This bridge is about eight miles from Tivoli. There is
no carriage-road to it, but a tolerable path for horses or donkeys; it is
one of the finest and most picturesque objects on the whole line of the
Aqueducts, and is about 100 ft. above the water in the stream below which
is called the _fosse_ of S. Antony. This valley or gorge in the mountain,
with the bridge across it, is not easily seen from any distance; but
the site may be indicated by a medieval castle with a tall square brick
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account